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The Horus Heresy #Novella
Brotherhood of the Storm
A Horus Heresy novella
After the Triumph at Ullanor, Jaghatai Khan led the White Scars to Chondax and then vanished from all sight. Only after years of war against the orks does his story become known...
READ IT BECAUSE
This is the first time the White Scars have been shown in any detail in the Horus Heresy series. In this book, their trademark method of war is demonstrated to brutal effect against the unfortunate remnants of an ork empire. And a unique structure contrasts how the White Scars see themselves and how the Imperium views them.
THE STORY
As word of Horus's treachery spreads to fully half of the Legiones Astartes, Terra looks to the remaining loyalist Space Marines to defend the Imperium. One group, however, remains curiously silent in spite of apparent efforts from both sides to contact them the noble V Legion, Jaghatai Khan's fearsome White Scars. In the ork-held territory of Chondax, a bitter war has been raging since the Triumph at Ullanor, and only now do the sons of Chogoris return their gaze to the heavens...
After the Triumph at Ullanor, Jaghatai Khan led the White Scars to Chondax and then vanished from all sight. Only after years of war against the orks does his story become known...
READ IT BECAUSE
This is the first time the White Scars have been shown in any detail in the Horus Heresy series. In this book, their trademark method of war is demonstrated to brutal effect against the unfortunate remnants of an ork empire. And a unique structure contrasts how the White Scars see themselves and how the Imperium views them.
THE STORY
As word of Horus's treachery spreads to fully half of the Legiones Astartes, Terra looks to the remaining loyalist Space Marines to defend the Imperium. One group, however, remains curiously silent in spite of apparent efforts from both sides to contact them the noble V Legion, Jaghatai Khan's fearsome White Scars. In the ork-held territory of Chondax, a bitter war has been raging since the Triumph at Ullanor, and only now do the sons of Chogoris return their gaze to the heavens...
123 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2012
16 people are currently reading
541 people want to read
About the author
Chris Wraight
217 books377 followersChris Wraight is a British author of fantasy and science fiction.
His first novel was published in 2008; since then, he has published books set in the Warhammer Fantasy and Stargate:Atlantis universes, and has upcoming titles in the Warhammer 40K setting.
He is based in the south-west of England.
His first novel was published in 2008; since then, he has published books set in the Warhammer Fantasy and Stargate:Atlantis universes, and has upcoming titles in the Warhammer 40K setting.
He is based in the south-west of England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 21, 2023
A brilliant novella and a great introduction to the White Scars legion. For me this further solidifies Chris Wraight as one of Black Library's elite, alongside Dan Abnett and ADB. He uses an elegant, poetic style of writing here to show the White Scars, appropriate given their own fondness for poetry. In just 123 pages, the stories of 3 different characters are told, and i felt they were all well done and well rounded. You tot to understand the legion and its way of war, and the scenes with General Ravallion are a great peak into the contact of mortals with primarchs. Given all that is about to happen, you realise just how monumental that meeting may have been. The action sequences are also written really well, encapsulating the fast, brutal nature of the legion's tactics, while remaining clear and easy to follow and imagine. A really well-written novella.
March 21, 2016
Brotherhood of the Storm is the first piece to really go in to the culture of the White Scars(fairly late in the series, being over 22 books into the series), and it was amazing. Chris Wraight did a damned good job on building the culture of the V Legion. They are immensely fun to read about, and their way of war(at least the Brotherhood of the Storm's) is a crazy good time! The novella was told from many perspectives, and the layout of the story telling was awesome! Getting to see how Chogorian and Terran marines are similar/different, as we as the 64th who had served with the Luna Wolves(which I can only assume will have to play a part in Scars) was great. And finally seeing Jaghatai Khan was great. He is a breathe of fresh air in the Heresy, and I really can't wait to see more of him!
Though I fear the changes that it will bring!
I really hope any future White Scars novels/novellas/short stories/audio dramas(HH or 40k) use this style of writing/dialogue for the White Scars. It is a joy to read.
Though I fear the changes that it will bring!
I really hope any future White Scars novels/novellas/short stories/audio dramas(HH or 40k) use this style of writing/dialogue for the White Scars. It is a joy to read.
November 3, 2012
A very nice novella. I'm really happy I got the signed limited edition, it was well worth it. A must read for any fan of the White Scars. This book explains the history, habits and fighting style of the legion and its primarch in detail and it does so while spinning an intriguing tale between three very different characters. You will see the White Scars from their own perspectives and from that of an outsider from the Imperial Army as well as witnessing a meeting between the Khan and Horus. All very well done. The story also starts to explain what the White Scars where up to while the Heresy began and how they missed a lot of it. Note the hint about the Alpha Legion symbol buried deep in the story, that will be important in the future, I'm sure.
December 20, 2013
While the story has little to do with the Heresy itself, being about a war of extermination against Orks, this novella was a fantastic little read. The White Scars are portrayed in a far more nuanced and enjoyable way than any other book before it has done, and does a marvellous job of providing insight into their culture, both the Terrans and the Chogorians. It also drops a couple of hints at conflict to come within the Legion, which I imagine will feature in Chris Wraight's novel "Scars", but sadly I'll not be reading that until October 2014 at minimum.
The Khan himself does feature briefly near the end of the novella, but the primary characters are two of his captains, one Chogorian and one Terran, and the focus is on the different ways they think and fight, and what they learn from each other as warriors. There are also sections devoted to a mortal human attempting to gain attachment to the White Scars after the triumph at Ullanor, and here we see some much-needed interaction between Horus and the Khan, as well as gaining somewhat of a retroactive explanation for why the White Scars Stormseer in "A Thousand Sons" by Graham McNeill spoke like a racist stereotype. For this I was very glad indeed.
While the plot of the book in and of itself is not amazingly powerful, the cultural insights and impressive character development in such a short book were very impressive, and I really cannot think of anything I dislike about the book save the cover art. I had not read anything written by Chris Wraight before this, and he utterly blew me away. I have a near-constant desire to go back and re-read it. Well done, Mr Wraight.
The Khan himself does feature briefly near the end of the novella, but the primary characters are two of his captains, one Chogorian and one Terran, and the focus is on the different ways they think and fight, and what they learn from each other as warriors. There are also sections devoted to a mortal human attempting to gain attachment to the White Scars after the triumph at Ullanor, and here we see some much-needed interaction between Horus and the Khan, as well as gaining somewhat of a retroactive explanation for why the White Scars Stormseer in "A Thousand Sons" by Graham McNeill spoke like a racist stereotype. For this I was very glad indeed.
While the plot of the book in and of itself is not amazingly powerful, the cultural insights and impressive character development in such a short book were very impressive, and I really cannot think of anything I dislike about the book save the cover art. I had not read anything written by Chris Wraight before this, and he utterly blew me away. I have a near-constant desire to go back and re-read it. Well done, Mr Wraight.
Read
March 2, 2025I'm trying to curb my addiction to doing a write-up for all the shorter 40k stuff I read, unless I've read the entire anthology or I have a particular amount to say about the story. This one's a novella instead of just a short, though, so I feel less bad about it. AND I have some stuff to say! So there's that.
Despite having been essentially mainlining 40k for the past ~year and my focus being primarily Space Marine And Space Marine Accessories, I'd say Jaghatai was probably still someone I knew next to nothing about. The basics are hard to avoid, of course, "this is my cool OC, ancient Terran legend Genghis Khan but on a sick motorcycle" is an extremely funny premise, but that is of course kind of bare bones and doesn't really tell me about him as a person. It didn't really help that one of the big things about him (and the White Scars sort of in general) is that he's kind of mysterious and a lot of people in-universe also don't know much about him. Reading this... was interesting, in that regard, since it's not really about him and more is about the people surrounding him. Through each of their eyes you get a different view of him, and from there you can start forming a more complete picture.
The more you do learn about him and the Scars in general, from both them and from the perspective of outsiders, the more it becomes apparent that they're really the "appearances can be deceiving" faction. This is on multiple levels- the Vth comes across to outsiders first and foremost as disorganized and uncommunicative, something that is thought of as a liability but which they consider a strength and a virtue. There's similar virtues to their rapid and ostensibly "reckless" use of what's essentially mounted cavalry for blitzes and aggressive offense instead of more common, cautious Astartes "take and hold"-style tactics.
And then there's the Great Khan himself, someone who comes off as aloof, untrustworthy, and unknowable even to many of his own brothers. To some degree, this is true. To a larger, more meaningful degree, most of these qualities are less because he's trying to be aloof and mysterious, and more because he's extremely flighty, not to put too fine a point on it. Of course it's hard to pin him down- he can't sit still for more than five minutes at a time.
Not to project TOO much, but it's kind of crazy that the Emperor has approximately zero sons who aren't some type of either autistic or ADHD or both, and it's kind of funny that a lot of Jaghatai's perceived mystique comes down to "this guy should SUPER be taking Ritalin and probably isn't because they don't make a dosage big enough for a primarch". It's kind of endearing- one of the things I always appreciate about the primarchs is that despite being beyond human, they're also much too human, in that they all have both the virtues and flaws that human beings have, magnified and amped up to eleven because of what they are. This is a quality that all of them share, regardless of their loyalties, and it makes them far more interesting than if they were exclusively virtuous or exclusively flawed.
I liked this novella! Not sure if I'll read another Vth book next or not, I have a few different things on my bucket list, but it was very enlightening to get to know a legion I've barely encountered thus far. I like Mr. Khan and his wizards and his big cool motorcycle too.
Despite having been essentially mainlining 40k for the past ~year and my focus being primarily Space Marine And Space Marine Accessories, I'd say Jaghatai was probably still someone I knew next to nothing about. The basics are hard to avoid, of course, "this is my cool OC, ancient Terran legend Genghis Khan but on a sick motorcycle" is an extremely funny premise, but that is of course kind of bare bones and doesn't really tell me about him as a person. It didn't really help that one of the big things about him (and the White Scars sort of in general) is that he's kind of mysterious and a lot of people in-universe also don't know much about him. Reading this... was interesting, in that regard, since it's not really about him and more is about the people surrounding him. Through each of their eyes you get a different view of him, and from there you can start forming a more complete picture.
The more you do learn about him and the Scars in general, from both them and from the perspective of outsiders, the more it becomes apparent that they're really the "appearances can be deceiving" faction. This is on multiple levels- the Vth comes across to outsiders first and foremost as disorganized and uncommunicative, something that is thought of as a liability but which they consider a strength and a virtue. There's similar virtues to their rapid and ostensibly "reckless" use of what's essentially mounted cavalry for blitzes and aggressive offense instead of more common, cautious Astartes "take and hold"-style tactics.
And then there's the Great Khan himself, someone who comes off as aloof, untrustworthy, and unknowable even to many of his own brothers. To some degree, this is true. To a larger, more meaningful degree, most of these qualities are less because he's trying to be aloof and mysterious, and more because he's extremely flighty, not to put too fine a point on it. Of course it's hard to pin him down- he can't sit still for more than five minutes at a time.
Not to project TOO much, but it's kind of crazy that the Emperor has approximately zero sons who aren't some type of either autistic or ADHD or both, and it's kind of funny that a lot of Jaghatai's perceived mystique comes down to "this guy should SUPER be taking Ritalin and probably isn't because they don't make a dosage big enough for a primarch". It's kind of endearing- one of the things I always appreciate about the primarchs is that despite being beyond human, they're also much too human, in that they all have both the virtues and flaws that human beings have, magnified and amped up to eleven because of what they are. This is a quality that all of them share, regardless of their loyalties, and it makes them far more interesting than if they were exclusively virtuous or exclusively flawed.
I liked this novella! Not sure if I'll read another Vth book next or not, I have a few different things on my bucket list, but it was very enlightening to get to know a legion I've barely encountered thus far. I like Mr. Khan and his wizards and his big cool motorcycle too.
July 28, 2025
“More than a century has passed since I was a child. I ought to be wiser, and I ought to have left my memories behind me, but we never leave our childhood behind us: we carry it with us, and it whispers to us, reminding us of the paths we could have taken.”
Our first introduction to the White Scars in the Horus Heresy is elegantly and poetically written by Chris Wraight.
Under Wraight's pen the White Scars are complex and layered. The world-building feels natural as we learn more about them through their actions rather than a text blurb.
The story introduces us to four characters:
Shiban Khan - White Scar from Chogoris
Torghun Khan - White Scar from Terra
Targutai Yesugei - Stormseer (White Scar Psyker)
General Ilya Ravallion - Departmento Munitorum
Through these characters we see different aspects of the Legion's nature. Each one of these characters feel well-rounded and layered. Shiban and Torghun demonstrate different aspects of the Legion, those who have fully embraced Chogorian culture, and those who have adhere to a more "Imperial" nature (Torghun uses the terms "company" and "captain" instead of "order" and "Khan" while using tactics reminiscent of the Luna Wolves). This cultural divide will go on to play a larger role in "Scars".
Yesugei provides a look at Chogorisian culture and their relationship of the warp and their philosophy on life and war. Ilya Ravallion is the outsider, unfamiliar with the customs of the White Scars, but willing to learn.
As well as providing compelling characters, Wraight provides action that is exciting and intense, and felt meaningful to the story being told. A must read for fans of the Heresy.
"Laugh when you are killing."
Our first introduction to the White Scars in the Horus Heresy is elegantly and poetically written by Chris Wraight.
Under Wraight's pen the White Scars are complex and layered. The world-building feels natural as we learn more about them through their actions rather than a text blurb.
The story introduces us to four characters:
Shiban Khan - White Scar from Chogoris
Torghun Khan - White Scar from Terra
Targutai Yesugei - Stormseer (White Scar Psyker)
General Ilya Ravallion - Departmento Munitorum
Through these characters we see different aspects of the Legion's nature. Each one of these characters feel well-rounded and layered. Shiban and Torghun demonstrate different aspects of the Legion, those who have fully embraced Chogorian culture, and those who have adhere to a more "Imperial" nature (Torghun uses the terms "company" and "captain" instead of "order" and "Khan" while using tactics reminiscent of the Luna Wolves). This cultural divide will go on to play a larger role in "Scars".
Yesugei provides a look at Chogorisian culture and their relationship of the warp and their philosophy on life and war. Ilya Ravallion is the outsider, unfamiliar with the customs of the White Scars, but willing to learn.
As well as providing compelling characters, Wraight provides action that is exciting and intense, and felt meaningful to the story being told. A must read for fans of the Heresy.
"Laugh when you are killing."
January 15, 2022
Ya de por sí, antes de empezar este libro los cicatrices no me acababan de agradar demasiado, por el nombre del primarca y lo de Gengis Khan...
Pero después de leerlo ha empeorado mi opinión bastante más, me recuerda al libro que leí sobre los lobos espaciales, que no distinguía si era todo un sueño, una narración, una ilusión o un cuento. Los pasajes oníricos son lo peor, que casi no se aprecie si estamos en una batalla o hace cien años en un palacio o en un desierto buscando a una persona que no existe es lo peor. Y la narración en primera persona no ayuda nada. Khan sigue en el último puesto de promarcas sobre quienes quiero leer más de momento y eso ya es decir.
Pero después de leerlo ha empeorado mi opinión bastante más, me recuerda al libro que leí sobre los lobos espaciales, que no distinguía si era todo un sueño, una narración, una ilusión o un cuento. Los pasajes oníricos son lo peor, que casi no se aprecie si estamos en una batalla o hace cien años en un palacio o en un desierto buscando a una persona que no existe es lo peor. Y la narración en primera persona no ayuda nada. Khan sigue en el último puesto de promarcas sobre quienes quiero leer más de momento y eso ya es decir.
February 17, 2025
It is basically three short stories in one, they were all just fine, but I can’t say I liked them a lot. Each one of them did offer some interesting insights into the white scars though, so that was a highlight of the book, especially the white scars’ opinions on orks and the way their psychers go through the trial. Overall I’d say it was just alright.
July 18, 2025
Great intro to 30k White Scars. Really liked the dialogue between the different characters focused in this novella, and always interested to see more of the earlier glimpses before the schism occurs
This is no doubt a lead-in to Scars, but am more anticipating the read after having gotten through this one
This is no doubt a lead-in to Scars, but am more anticipating the read after having gotten through this one
March 1, 2018
I enjoyed this novella. No mind blowing plot twists, but a good insight on White Scars, the way they fight, think, their traditions. Loved the fact that they were presented to us from different perspectives - both from inside the legion and from an outside observer.
August 2, 2025
For a novella it was fun. Kind of felt more like a proof of concept for what was to come with Wraight's White Scars series, probably because it literally is that, maybe? Good introduction into the White Scars whole deal though, I will say.
October 26, 2025
Quick little story that filled in the beginning of Scars. It's slow and can seem directionless, no real over arching motif or message. Enjoyable in the end to see the Khan and to learn some about orcs but nothing absolutely necessary to the wider HH.
March 18, 2018
Serviceable prologue to “Scars”. Introduces a few key characters and gives a little more background to the Legion.
March 29, 2020
FANTASTIC
August 3, 2020
Good insight into the ways of the White Scars, how they're perceived from without their legion as well as within.
January 18, 2025
Pretty cool story about the white scars, we don't get a whole lot of books involving the white scars so it kept me entertained for that reason.
Collected in legacies of betrayal book.
Collected in legacies of betrayal book.
October 10, 2025
Poetic and written with such care. Chris Wraight delivers an exceptionally well thought out introduction to the white scars of the 30k millennium.
March 26, 2024
March 2024 Re-Read using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project Reading Order - Omnibus XI Ordu of the Khan (https://www.heresyomnibus.com/omnibus...) as part of my Oath of Moment to complete the Horus Heresy saga and extras.
Having had some time for my thoughts on this to settle, which included reading Scars, I have come to the conclusion this isn't a novella. This is the most beautifully presented cutting room floor bits repackaged as a novella in the most almost essential DLC the actually just came on the original disc and was paid to unlock...but less bad and frustrating than that sounds, I guess?
What I'm saying is, and you know Black Library would love this and have discussed it, I think a director's cut of Scars with Brotherhood of the Storm as some combination of part one and/ or flashbacks at appropriate times, such as the Terran officer reflecting on when she first met the Khan during the first time she is introduced, etc.
I'm not marking it down for this, though this would be on the lower end of 4/5, but numbers and art are silly etc. etc., but the writing is great.
So, what we have here, rather than being a particularly cohesive novella, is the introduction of three characters who will play varyingly significant roles in Scars and the White Scars involvement in the Horus Heresy. I used to wondered at the Dramatis Personae pages when I first read the novels, but with the rate I'm listening to the audiobooks, I am not keeping all the names, so for this we have the Weathermaker, who is largely the main protagonist of this and the novel, the Terran Scar who gets introduced here and plays a significant part in the novel, and the Terran Officer who seems like she would have been in the novel more and played a much greater part by getting a chapter in here. With the Weathermaker we see how the came to be accept their psychic abilities and join the Ordu of the Khan, even before the White Scars existed, as well as him having fun on his bike and fighting Orks as a Khan in his own right during the Chondax campaign. For the Terran Scar we see how much later he came to the Legion and that some training facilities for Aspirants send new Astartes to different Legions, something that seems obvious now I think about it, especially with multiple Legions bringing planets and systems to Compliance together, but not something I had ever considered before. Terran Scar was almost a Lunar Wolf. With the Terran Officer we see her meet the Khan and begin a rather disappointing and passively misogynistic role that the actor who plays Dee in Always Sunny complained about and worked to rework her character after the first season, as the organised and sensible one, nagging the out of control boys... I love to see characters that aren't men in Horus Heresy (maybe, less so in Abnett or McNeill's hands) and otherwise she is a cool and respected character, but her role as the only woman in the novella and novel really is the 'woman's role'.
This is beautifully written and feels like a wholly new and original perspective that is wholly the White Scars. It's a poetic and joyous embracing of warfare summed up by the oft repeated quote, "laugh while you are killing". The Orks are Horus Heresy horrors, but given a layer of lyrical description that makes them more of a force of nature than anything else, which is an interesting and effective take.
I greatly enjoyed this, despite my feelings about what this really is, and that enjoyment was only enhanced by the narration of the UK-based, Singaporean actor, Windson Liong. I have mentioned my discomfort with white British actors doing a decidedly orientalist 'White Scars Voice', as I have with the same and the 'vaguely African Salamanders voice'. Credit where credit is due, Black Library really seems to have done the right thing when it comes to the main narrators for the White Scars works, you love to see it! If only they can get there for the Salamanders too (although, there is a fun bit of Salamander voicing I can't wait to talk about when I get into Scars).
Beautiful DLC is beautiful, but it's still DLC, but it's still great.
***
I have no memory of previously reading this, though I am sure I had the hardback at some point, maybe?
This was refreshingly different and absolutely set the White Scars and the Great Khan apart from other Legions.
I need to percolate and actually review Betrayer before getting more into this.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 19.41 Horus Heresy novels, 12 novellas, 54 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 10 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
Having had some time for my thoughts on this to settle, which included reading Scars, I have come to the conclusion this isn't a novella. This is the most beautifully presented cutting room floor bits repackaged as a novella in the most almost essential DLC the actually just came on the original disc and was paid to unlock...but less bad and frustrating than that sounds, I guess?
What I'm saying is, and you know Black Library would love this and have discussed it, I think a director's cut of Scars with Brotherhood of the Storm as some combination of part one and/ or flashbacks at appropriate times, such as the Terran officer reflecting on when she first met the Khan during the first time she is introduced, etc.
I'm not marking it down for this, though this would be on the lower end of 4/5, but numbers and art are silly etc. etc., but the writing is great.
So, what we have here, rather than being a particularly cohesive novella, is the introduction of three characters who will play varyingly significant roles in Scars and the White Scars involvement in the Horus Heresy. I used to wondered at the Dramatis Personae pages when I first read the novels, but with the rate I'm listening to the audiobooks, I am not keeping all the names, so for this we have the Weathermaker, who is largely the main protagonist of this and the novel, the Terran Scar who gets introduced here and plays a significant part in the novel, and the Terran Officer who seems like she would have been in the novel more and played a much greater part by getting a chapter in here. With the Weathermaker we see how the came to be accept their psychic abilities and join the Ordu of the Khan, even before the White Scars existed, as well as him having fun on his bike and fighting Orks as a Khan in his own right during the Chondax campaign. For the Terran Scar we see how much later he came to the Legion and that some training facilities for Aspirants send new Astartes to different Legions, something that seems obvious now I think about it, especially with multiple Legions bringing planets and systems to Compliance together, but not something I had ever considered before. Terran Scar was almost a Lunar Wolf. With the Terran Officer we see her meet the Khan and begin a rather disappointing and passively misogynistic role that the actor who plays Dee in Always Sunny complained about and worked to rework her character after the first season, as the organised and sensible one, nagging the out of control boys... I love to see characters that aren't men in Horus Heresy (maybe, less so in Abnett or McNeill's hands) and otherwise she is a cool and respected character, but her role as the only woman in the novella and novel really is the 'woman's role'.
This is beautifully written and feels like a wholly new and original perspective that is wholly the White Scars. It's a poetic and joyous embracing of warfare summed up by the oft repeated quote, "laugh while you are killing". The Orks are Horus Heresy horrors, but given a layer of lyrical description that makes them more of a force of nature than anything else, which is an interesting and effective take.
I greatly enjoyed this, despite my feelings about what this really is, and that enjoyment was only enhanced by the narration of the UK-based, Singaporean actor, Windson Liong. I have mentioned my discomfort with white British actors doing a decidedly orientalist 'White Scars Voice', as I have with the same and the 'vaguely African Salamanders voice'. Credit where credit is due, Black Library really seems to have done the right thing when it comes to the main narrators for the White Scars works, you love to see it! If only they can get there for the Salamanders too (although, there is a fun bit of Salamander voicing I can't wait to talk about when I get into Scars).
Beautiful DLC is beautiful, but it's still DLC, but it's still great.
***
I have no memory of previously reading this, though I am sure I had the hardback at some point, maybe?
This was refreshingly different and absolutely set the White Scars and the Great Khan apart from other Legions.
I need to percolate and actually review Betrayer before getting more into this.
Through using the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project (www.heresyomnibus.com) and my own choices, I have currently read 19.41 Horus Heresy novels, 12 novellas, 54 short stories/ audio dramas, as well as the Macragge's Honour graphic novel, 10 Primarchs novels, 4 Primarchs short stories/ audio dramas, and 2 Warhammer 40K further reading novels...this run. I can't say enough good about the way the Horus Heresy Omnibus Project suggestions. I'm loving it! Especially after originally reading to the releases and being so frustrated at having to wait so long for a narrative to continue.
July 20, 2025
shiban-khan of the khin-zha. torghun-khan of terra
my babies :(
(these are 8 foot tall men in powerarmour that weighs a ton, the finest killing organism in the galaxy)
my babies :(
(these are 8 foot tall men in powerarmour that weighs a ton, the finest killing organism in the galaxy)
October 11, 2014
You can read the full review over at my blog:
http://sonsofcorax.wordpress.com/2014...
The White Scars are one of the Legiones Astartes that many fans of the Horus Heresy have been wanting to see in the series of the same name since the earliest days. One of the most mysterious chapters, and Legions, the White Scars haven’t received much attention from the writers at Black Library, though there has been the occasional novel or short story. When Black Library launched its limited edition novella products for the Horus Heresy in 2011, there were some expectations that we might get a novella finally, and such expectations came true in late 2012 when Brotherhood of the Storm was released, with the general release coming more than a year later.
Brotherhood of the Storm was described by author Chris Wraight as the White Scars novel that Heresy fans have been waiting for, and that irked me to no end since the vast majority of the fans wouldn’t be able to read the book until the general release. Thankfully, the wait for that wasn’t too long, and I myself finally got the chance to read it earlier this month, right after I listened to the Scars audiobook, which is the sequel to Brotherhood of the Storm and also Chris’ first Heresy novel. The novella itself is a damn good action story, focusing on three different personnel of the Legion, and it is quite the vital story in that it helps you understand something of the White Scars’ history on Chogoris, their legion culture, and how an outsider views them.
The three characters that the novella focuses on are quite interesting. The first is Shiban Khan, a line-Captain of the Legion who leads a company of some five hundred warriors, called the Brotherhood of the Storm. The second is Yesugei Targutai, a White Scars Stormseer who was last seen in Graham McNeill’s A Thousand Sons when he spoke passionately in support of the Legion Librarius program before the Emperor and many assembled Primarchs at Nikaea. The third is Ilya Ravallion, a high-ranking officer of the newly-found Departmento Munitorum who has been assigned to the White Scars to provide a proper accounting of their fleet operations and help manage their logistics at the highest level.
The story here alternate between the three of them. Shiban conducts a war on Chondax as part of the Legion’s wider campaign on the planet, mopping up the last Ork forces that fled from the Orkish empire at decimated Ullanor. Ilya comes to Ullanor after the campaign and the Triumph are over to take up her new post and meet with the Primarch of the Scars, Jaghatai Khan. Yesugei, for his part, is caught up on Chogoris, undertaking his trials to become a Stormseer, many years before the Emperor came to the planet.
Each story offers something different and through all three viewpoints, we really come to see the White Scars for what they are, and what they aspire to be. Through Shiban we come to understand the White Scars’ war culture as they use the Legion’s signature jetbikes to wage a relentless war of attrition against various Ork forces. Through Ilya we come to understand Jaghatai’s mindset and what he considers to be his place in the greater war for Humanity’s dominance in the galaxy. And through Yesugei we come to understand Chogoris itself, its own culture that is undergoing severe changes as Jaghatai remolds the world into his vision of it. It all works hand in hand and paints a very vivid picture of the Legion’s history and its present alike.
http://sonsofcorax.wordpress.com/2014...
The White Scars are one of the Legiones Astartes that many fans of the Horus Heresy have been wanting to see in the series of the same name since the earliest days. One of the most mysterious chapters, and Legions, the White Scars haven’t received much attention from the writers at Black Library, though there has been the occasional novel or short story. When Black Library launched its limited edition novella products for the Horus Heresy in 2011, there were some expectations that we might get a novella finally, and such expectations came true in late 2012 when Brotherhood of the Storm was released, with the general release coming more than a year later.
Brotherhood of the Storm was described by author Chris Wraight as the White Scars novel that Heresy fans have been waiting for, and that irked me to no end since the vast majority of the fans wouldn’t be able to read the book until the general release. Thankfully, the wait for that wasn’t too long, and I myself finally got the chance to read it earlier this month, right after I listened to the Scars audiobook, which is the sequel to Brotherhood of the Storm and also Chris’ first Heresy novel. The novella itself is a damn good action story, focusing on three different personnel of the Legion, and it is quite the vital story in that it helps you understand something of the White Scars’ history on Chogoris, their legion culture, and how an outsider views them.
The three characters that the novella focuses on are quite interesting. The first is Shiban Khan, a line-Captain of the Legion who leads a company of some five hundred warriors, called the Brotherhood of the Storm. The second is Yesugei Targutai, a White Scars Stormseer who was last seen in Graham McNeill’s A Thousand Sons when he spoke passionately in support of the Legion Librarius program before the Emperor and many assembled Primarchs at Nikaea. The third is Ilya Ravallion, a high-ranking officer of the newly-found Departmento Munitorum who has been assigned to the White Scars to provide a proper accounting of their fleet operations and help manage their logistics at the highest level.
The story here alternate between the three of them. Shiban conducts a war on Chondax as part of the Legion’s wider campaign on the planet, mopping up the last Ork forces that fled from the Orkish empire at decimated Ullanor. Ilya comes to Ullanor after the campaign and the Triumph are over to take up her new post and meet with the Primarch of the Scars, Jaghatai Khan. Yesugei, for his part, is caught up on Chogoris, undertaking his trials to become a Stormseer, many years before the Emperor came to the planet.
Each story offers something different and through all three viewpoints, we really come to see the White Scars for what they are, and what they aspire to be. Through Shiban we come to understand the White Scars’ war culture as they use the Legion’s signature jetbikes to wage a relentless war of attrition against various Ork forces. Through Ilya we come to understand Jaghatai’s mindset and what he considers to be his place in the greater war for Humanity’s dominance in the galaxy. And through Yesugei we come to understand Chogoris itself, its own culture that is undergoing severe changes as Jaghatai remolds the world into his vision of it. It all works hand in hand and paints a very vivid picture of the Legion’s history and its present alike.
May 4, 2025
wow this was just straight up awful
November 13, 2014
Chris Wraight's Brotherhood of the Storm is a Horus Heresy novella which gave us our first proper look at the Heresy-era White Scars. It was originally released as a standalone novella, first a posh limited edition version but now available on the Black Library website in print, ebook and audio formats, but it also comprises the first story within Legacies of Betrayal, the 31st full book in the Horus Heresy series. That does mean that completists may well end up owning it twice, but it also means that fans who don't want to fork out for the hardback novellas can now get their hands on it in a more palatable format.
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
Read the rest of the review at https://trackofwords.wordpress.com/20...
November 8, 2012
An enjoyable novella with deep characters and an interesting plot. It expands on one of the lesser known chapters of the Astartes. Only gripe would be that Jagahtai Khan is around for only short scenes (which none the less actually fit his 'elusive' character). None the less, he is always there... 'at the center, in the end' making the book end with a flourish.
One of the better written Black Library books interms of prose. Highly recommended and shame to anyone who didn't manage to pick up on of the 5764 copies that were printed. The full colour graphic inserts are excellent and well worth the price of the book alone.
One of the better written Black Library books interms of prose. Highly recommended and shame to anyone who didn't manage to pick up on of the 5764 copies that were printed. The full colour graphic inserts are excellent and well worth the price of the book alone.
May 20, 2014
An excellent novella which explains the beginnings and style of the White Scars. While not as long as some other books of the Horus Heresy, the story itself gains much from concentrating more on characters and less on bolter-porn..
Besides, for those slightly tired of faux-latin "Gothic" phrases, the old-turkish and mongol words here and there give a nice flair to the Scars... For this alone, they might become one of my favourite chapters :-)
Besides, for those slightly tired of faux-latin "Gothic" phrases, the old-turkish and mongol words here and there give a nice flair to the Scars... For this alone, they might become one of my favourite chapters :-)
July 19, 2014
3 1/2 stars would be closer to my ideal rating.
It was a good read, but it felt like a introduction to a legion via a little story.
The story didn't seem to have a very big meaning for me besides the intro to Khan and the White Scars. Which where very enjoyable. There where some interesting characters and quotes though so for less money it would have defiantly been worth the read.
It was a good read, but it felt like a introduction to a legion via a little story.
The story didn't seem to have a very big meaning for me besides the intro to Khan and the White Scars. Which where very enjoyable. There where some interesting characters and quotes though so for less money it would have defiantly been worth the read.
March 20, 2013
Great fun. Totally incomprehensible to anybody who hasn't read the rest of the books. But still great fun.
February 26, 2014
Not a bad book, but it wasn't 'epic' as some of the more recent HH books I have read (ie Betrayer) It was nice to finally see the White Scars and the Khan.
March 2, 2014
Such a good introduction to the V Legion! Chris Wraight has brought the enigmatic White Scars to life in this novella which ties in excellently to the beginning of 'Scars'.
October 13, 2014
A good novella which ties in and supplements the story of the novel Scars. This book should be read as an extension of the aforementioned novel.
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